PSN To Be Back at Full Strength by May 31st

As Sony owners already know, the PlayStation Network has been down since April 20th, knocking out all online multiplayer and PlayStation Store purchase option for the black box. Conspiracy theories flew, credit cards got cancelled, and threats of additional attacks to the service are still lingering as we patiently wait for the service to come back up. Now, thanks to Kaz Hirai, we have a timeframe.

The PlayStation Network is reported to return in a phased roll-out over the duration of this month. Multiplayer functionality, friend lists, and chat are among the first functions to return to the service. The sooner these return, the better, as the extended downtime leads to reduced sales due to crippled gameplay. PlayStation Store functionality is said to be one of the last functions to return, as it contains the most sensitive data, but spells additional bad news for downloadable developers, who are already suffering from lack of sales.

Exact dates for the roll-out are not yet known, but we will keep you posted as more details emerge.